This is a paid collaboration with Three Counties Windows.
I’ve had my own mental health issues. It’s a hot topic and one which is talked about everywhere. I denied what was going on for a good while, eventually went to see a doctor and got some pills, found some help in the world of photography and generally tried to de-clutter life so there is less junk in the way of things. I’m happy to say I’m doing better. One thing that does help is natural light.
As I both live and work at home, I spend a lot of time in the same four walls. De-cluttering my office meant not only my desk but the windowsills to ensure more light was coming through. Adding positive imagery and photos to the walls, creating an environment which allows work and health to flourish.
I love taking photographs in natural light. I love the shade and tone on a hillside as the light plays with the landscape. This is what I wanted to allow into my space of work as well as my home life. Sure, there are cloudy days, there is vibrant sunshine, there are weeks of constant rain. That’s true in life as much as in the weather. But throughout all of that, the light shines through. We rely on artificial light a lot, especially with the clocks about to go back this weekend but even when the days get shorter, embrace the daylight we get, even if it is limited.
If you’re struggling, consider new windows and doors in your home. It’s easy, especially when you spend a lot of time in the same place, for it to become stale and boring. Not a place which breeds creativity and thinking.
Companies like Three Counties Windows excel at bringing the outdoors in. Feature windows, amazing doors, enhancing natural light in your home which can improve your mood and boost your wellbeing. It’s exactly what so many of us need.
Our house is definitely a fixing-it-upper. We moved in just over four years ago, added two kids to the one we moved with and are tackling one room at a time. We’re both self employed creatives so whilst money is always tight, we save up for what we want and enjoy putting our unique tastes on things. From film posters and comic book art to retro wallpaper and bridesmaids dress material now our curtains, we do what makes us happy. Happiness often comes in little touches.
It’s easy to just make do and accumulate so much stuff though. With more children comes more clothes, more toys, more stuff. Cut back, get rid, live simply. Whilst you live in that way though, it’s important to open the curtains every day. Sometimes we can’t be bothered, especially during those short days I previously mentioned. If it gets light at 8.30am & goes dark at 3.30pm, is it worth putting the effort in to opening the curtains around the house? The answer is yes.
You’ll see the world outside, feel the heat from the sun on your face, see what the light is dancing with today in the landscape around you. Ultimately it will help to improve your mental health, even if, right now, you don’t think anything can.
